Vrindavan, September 29th 2015: The Pitru paksha began with the full moon day of Purnima. The brajwasis reached the ghats of Yamuna in Vrindavan and Mathura to perform the tarpan ritual by offering til (sesame seed) and water to their ancestors. The sixteen day period is dedicated to making an offering to express our gratitude to all our ancestors who have contributed to our life. . On this day the Brahmins and cows are fed by the families who perform shradh of their ancestors.
The tarpan rituals are performed in Keshi Ghat, Cheer Ghat, Vishram Ghat and many other ghats of Yamuna in Vrindavan and Mathura. The members of the Brahman Mahasabha of Vrindavan ceremonially performed the first day’s tarpan at Keshi Ghat after taking bath in Yamuna.
According to Shri Suresh Chandra Sharma, patron of the Mahasabha, the performance of shradh in pitru paksha regarded as compulsory by hindus to ensure that the soul of the ancestor goes to heaven. He cited the scriptures of Garud Puran, “There is no salvation for a man without a son.” He added, “The scriptures preach that a house holder should propitiate ancestors (pitrus) along with the gods (devas), ghosts (bhutas) and guests. The performance of Sarvapitru amavasya rites can also compensate a forgotten or neglected annual Shraddha ceremony is central to the concept of lineages.”
Shri Suresh Pachauri said, “Shraddha involves oblations to three preceding generations – by reciting their names – as well as to the mythical lineae ancestor (gotra). A person thus gets to know the names of six lives, reaffirming lineage ties. The Pitru Paksha emphasizes the fact that the ancestors and the current generation and their next unborn generation are connected by blood ties. The current generation repays their debt to the ancestors in the Pitru Paksha. The debt is considered of utmost importance along with a person’s debt to his gurus and his parents.”
Shri Tota Ram Upadhyay
, president of the Brahman Sabha elaborated further, “The shraddha is performed on the specific lunar day during the Pitru Paksha when the ancestor – usually a parent of paternal grandparent died. There are exceptions to the lunar day rule; special day are allotted for people who died in a particular manner or had a certain status in life. Chautha Bharani and Bharani Panchami, the fourth and fifth lunar day respectively, are allocated for the people decease in the past year. Avidhava navami (Un-widowed ninth), the ninth lunar day, is for married women who died before their husband. Widowers invite Brahmin women as guests for their wife’s shraddha. The twelfth lunar day is for children and ascetics who had renounced the worldly pleasures. The fourteenth day is known as Ghata Chaturdashi or Ghayala Chaturdashi, and is reserved for those people killed by arms, in war or suffered a violent death.”
Apart from all the shradh rituals the Sanjhi darshan at various temples has also begun from Purnima.
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